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Safeguard Organic Standards!
A MOUTHFUL OF MONEY: THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF ORGANIC FOODS
* Kraft Foods bought small natural cereals producer Back to Nature in 2004. The company is a subsidiary of Altria Group, which also owns Phillip Morris Companies Inc., one of the largest cigarette makers in the world. Kraft also owns Boca Burger Inc.
* Odwalla Inc., which produces natural and organic fruit juices, was purchased by Coca-Cola in 2001.
* Dean Foods Co., the largest dairy company in the U.S., bought out Horizon Organic in 2003, in addition to Silk soymilk and White Wave tofu.
* Kellogg's has acquired several natural and organic brands: Kashi Cereal and Morningstar Farms.
* General Mills purchased Cascadian Farm, in 2000. The brand consists of items such as frozen fruit, vegetables, granola bars, and fruit spreads. General Mills also bought out Muir Glen, which produces ketchup, tomato sauce, and salsa.
* Unilever bought out Ben & Jerry's for $326 million.
* Colgate-Palmolive Co. is purchasing Tom's of Maine, which specializes in natural oral and personal care products.
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Organic Standards Under Fire:
Agribusiness front groups, such as the Farm Bureau, big food corporations like Kraft, biotech companies such as Monsanto, right-wing think tanks, such as the Hudson Institute, and industry-friendly government agencies have consistently tried to undermine organic standards and get the USDA to allow conventional chemical-intensive and factory farm practices on organic farms. Unless strict organic standards are maintained, consumers will lose faith in the organic label.
SOS link here
posted by
zenbetty at 12:41 PM
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